CCTV pipe line inspection has become an indispensable tool in the underground pipe maintenance industry. The advantages of CCTV pipe inspection have been proven time after time, from new pipe line acceptance to updating of underground asset registers. Continuous improvements to the camera systems, software and the development of new technology have improved the quality of the data collected and expanded the applications where these camera systems can be used.
Advanced CCTV Pipe Line Inspection Technology
There are a wide variety of different cameras available on the market in order to conduct pipeline inspections. These cameras are designed in order to enhance the remote inspection process. Let’s take a look at some of the models we use here at Rescue Rod for our CCTV pipeline inspection service:
Interested in our CCTV equipment, click here for purchase options from Octopus Electronics (Pty) Ltd.
Tractors or Crawlers
Tractors are available to fit pipes from 100mm up to 2000mm. They are produced with powerful motors and are able to travel distances up to 600 meters.
This, of course, is also made easier by advancements in the trailing transmission cable which are now lighter and easier to tow. Steerable tractors also allow operators to negotiate obstacles or bends in some instances.
Additional lighting fitted to either the camera head or the tractor improve visibility in larger pipes, while various wheel sizes and extension attachments are available to the tractor can be adjusted to any pipe size.
Pan & Rotate Cameras
Pan and rotate (P&R) cameras have become one of the minimum requirements for most contracts or tenders. P&R gives the operator the ability to position the camera lens in order to properly identify or examine a defect.
Most of the cameras produced today have a zoom and focus function giving the operator the best possible view of the pipe.
Supervision®
Is valued around the world for its application in all fields of pipeline inspection. Dimension, speed and steerability make SUPERVISION® a powerful inspection tool, thereby being time-saving and moving around obstacles safely.
PipeBus® is a special technique developed for SUPERVISION® which allows longer operating hours and remote maintenance during service. Moreover, it provides recent information on all components, e.g. temperature, position and internal pressure.
SUPERVISION®‘s modular design allows our crawlers to adapt to all diameters, with diverse material and condition. Due to short wheelbase and steerability our crawlers can easily move over obstacles, steps and pass through tight bends.
Our SUPERVISION® system provides solutions for your explosion protection needs.
It is ATEX certified for Zone 1.
AGILIOS Push Camera System
Powerful and Maneuverable with High Pipe Bend Mobility.
The AGILIOS pan & tilt push camera system consists of a coiler with a reinforced, yet flexible push rod of up to 90 m length, two control panels, various axial cameras and a pan & tilt head camera.
Depending on the application area and purpose there are two multi-functional and mobile VISIONCONTROL control panels – version VC200 or version VC50 – that can be used.The extremely robust VC50 is the control unit suitable for inspections under harsh environmental conditions and the VC200 allows to carry out inspections according to predefined standards.
Side Scan Technology
Side scan inspections are done by taking thousands of photos as the tractor moves through the pipe. The end result is the ability to produce a 2D unfolded view of the pipe. The big advantage of this is that you can measure actual distances and areas on the 2 dimensional image which is not possible from a normal video inspection. Stitching all the images together allows the user to pan and rotate the images to view any defect at different angles, after the inspection is completed.
Another advantage of this technology is that the inspections in the field can be conducted much faster because all the videos can easily be processed in the office. Other similar product Rico RPP®
Side scan cameras can also be used to inspect and create 3D models of manholes.
iPek Rovion EX
- Steerable 6-wheel drive maneuvers past obstacles.
- Modular design adapts to pipe of any size, condition and material.
- Compact system footprint can be deployed from any size vehicle.
- Digital controls automatically update to the latest features and support self-diagnostics.
- Scalable design supports lateral launch, side-scanning and laser profiling.
This extracted 2D blank gives the operator a perfect overview of the pipe condition and provides an exact localisation and measurement of possible damages, laterals, or joints.
The WinCan Scan Explorer features various viewings like front, detail or overview and offers so an easy operation. By featuring a constant speed of the crawler, the inspection reduces complexity and saves expensive inspection time.
Your saved inspection data can be sighted afterwards and reported with the WinCan Viewer. Additionally, it is possible to extract later measurements out of the data.
TrapJumper
The TrapJumper is Scanprobe’s lightweight push-rod camera solutions, designed to provide both flexibility to navigate tight trap-bends whilst being strong enough to be pushed the distance in abrasive pipes.
As with the Maxprobe, the TrapJumper is fully compatible with the same control box, meaning that it is simple plug ‘n’ play to start usng the latest addition to the Scanprobe family of products.
Quickview®
In addition to the broad range of pipe inspection equipment produced by iPEK we herewith introduce a “zooming camera system” for a “quick view” inside the pipe from the manhole – the Quickview® from Envirosight – our pipe inspection partner from the U.S.A.
Zoom pipe inspection began 15 years ago with Quickview ® and Envirosight has just reinvented the concept with a revolutionary new Quickview® model that outperforms anything on the market. At the core of this new design is patent-pending Haloptic™ technology. a targeting method we’ve devised that doubles inspection range, delivers up to 20 times more illumination and eliminates the need for incremental realignment.
However, Haloptic™ isn’t the only improvement – the new system also includes a 16GB pole mounted viewer/recorder, an auxiliary manhole camera and a rugged waterproof roller casipee.
Trusted by more than 2000 users worldwide, the patented Quickview® zoom inspection camera evaluates pipelines, manholes and tanks from street level.
Contractors use it to survey pipe condition before bidding services and to document completed work. Municipalities use it to identify and prioritize main tenance issues, avoid confined space entry and inspect hard-to-reach infrastructure.
Departments of transportation use it to assess culvert and storm pipe condition with minimal exposure to traffic.
Laser Profiling
Laser profiling is a method of assessment which accurately measures the internal dimensions of a pipe. This is done by attaching a rod onto the front of the camera which throws a laser ring onto the wall of the pipe.
The ring is filmed as the camera tractor moves through the pipe. Specialist software is used to accurately measure the changes in diameter and shape of the laser ring.
The resulting data can be used to measure deformation, carrying capacity, pipe wall thickness, and in some cases, depth of flow or debris. This is an excellent tool for measuring the remaining life span of rigid pipes.
Side Scan Technology
Many of
the CCTV pipe line inspection systems available today have built in sonde
transmitters making it easy to track the camera on the surface as it moves
through the pipe. Tracing a pipe line or locating and exposing buried nodes or
pipe defects can be done accurately with the built in sonde.
Conclusion
CCTV Pipeline inspections provide you the ability to safely inspect any pipe. Due to the versatile nature of the use of technology in CCTV pipeline inspections, you are able to save time and resources in comparison to more traditional pipeline inspection methods. If you require a pipeline inspection contact Rescue Rod today to find out more about our pipeline inspection services.